Watch Startups

• OpenAI reached a valuation of $965 billion in 2026 while competing with other large language model developers. • The San Francisco-based research firm was founded in 2015 by tech enthusiasts including Sam Altman, Elon Musk, and Greg Brockman. • This valuation positions the creator of ChatGPT as a dominant force in the artificial intelligence market.

• European venture capitalists identified 12 AI biotech startups to watch in 2026, focusing on areas like clinical trial automation and biological foundation models. • Isomorphic Labs raised $2.1 billion in its Series B financing, marking the largest investment ever for an AI drug discovery company. • This funding surge indicates a massive shift in capital toward AI-driven drug discovery, surpassing previous total venture investments in European biotech.

• Top European venture capitalists have identified 17 deeptech startups to watch across sectors including AI, quantum, defense, climate hardware, and industrial technology. • Among the highlighted firms is SiC Systems, a company founded at the Technical University of Denmark by Professor Mansouri and co-founder Savoie, a former architect of Siri's software. • SiC Systems successfully secured over $2.3 million in funding, with investment led by QDNL Participations and supported by Propagator Ventures, Plug and Play, and Wavepeak Ventures.

• European compliance startups are scaling up as the European Commission’s AI Act enforcement begins, with full implementation of certain mandates set for August 2, 2026. • Key players include Paris-based Rippletide, founded in 2024, which is building infrastructure to make enterprise AI agents more predictable and auditable through explicit decision rules. • Outpost is also gaining traction, having raised €15 million in March to help merchants manage regulatory changes and absorb audit risks.

• Inc42, powered by Peak XV Partners, has released its "30 Startups To Watch" list for July 2026, highlighting early-stage companies in AI, EV, and manufacturing. • The list features Vimag, a startup that has developed software for real-time motor performance optimization and wireless energy transmission to eliminate physical connections. • Vimag's technology is designed for versatile application across defense, energy systems, industrial equipment, and electric vehicles.

• Inc42 and Peak XV Partners have released their "30 Startups To Watch" list for June 2026, highlighting promising early-stage companies in deeptech, D2C, and fintech. • One featured startup is developing advanced eVTOL aircraft that utilize proprietary tilt-rotor technology to combine vertical take-off with fixed-wing efficiency. • The company has created a comprehensive ecosystem including ground control systems and AI-driven autonomy software for GPS-denied navigation and object detection.

• Inc42 has released the ninth edition of its "AI Startups To Watch" list, highlighting five emerging companies that stood out in June. • The featured startups include Flaunt, JupiterBrains, SubVerse AI, Trench Security, and YoLearn.ai. • This curation serves to identify high-potential AI innovators within the Indian startup ecosystem for investors and industry observers.